Two C3 -symmetric Dy3III complexes with triple di-µ-methoxo-µ-phenoxo bridges, magnetic ground state, and single-molecule magnetic behavior.

Two series of isostructural C(3)-symmetric Ln(3) complexes Ln(3)⋅[BPh(4)] and Ln(3)⋅0.33[Ln(NO(3))(6)] (in which Ln(III) =Gd and Dy) have been prepared from an amino-bis(phenol) ligand. X-ray studies reveal that Ln(III) ions are connected by one µ(2)-phenoxo and two µ(3)-methoxo bridges, thus leading to a hexagonal bipyramidal Ln(3)O(5) bridging core in which Ln(III) ions exhibit a biaugmented trigonal-prismatic geometry. Magnetic susceptibility studies and ab initio complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the magnetic coupling between the Dy(III) ions, which possess a high axial anisotropy in the ground state, is very weakly antiferromagnetic and mainly dipolar in nature. To reduce the electronic repulsion from the coordinating oxygen atom with the shortest Dy-O distance, the local magnetic moments are oriented almost perpendicular to the Dy(3) plane, thus leading to a paramagnetic ground state. CASSCF plus restricted active space state interaction (RASSI) calculations also show that the ground and first excited state of the Dy(III) ions are separated by approximately 150 and 177 cm(-1), for Dy(3)⋅[BPh(4)] and Dy(3)⋅0.33[Dy(NO(3))(6)], respectively. As expected for these large energy gaps, Dy(3)⋅[BPh(4)] and Dy(3)⋅0.33[Dy(NO(3)(6)] exhibit, under zero direct-current (dc) field, thermally activated slow relaxation of the magnetization, which overlap with a quantum tunneling relaxation process. Under an applied Hdc field of 1000 Oe, Dy(3)⋅[BPh(4)] exhibits two thermally activated processes with U(eff) values of 34.7 and 19.5 cm(-1), whereas Dy(3)⋅0.33[Dy(NO(3))(6)] shows only one activated process with Ueff =19.5 cm(-1).